News / Releases

Jersey Meadows Detention Basin Receives Award

A Jersey Village detention basin that blends natural flood control with recreation is serving as a model for sustainable development across the county.

The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), in partnership with Harris County Precinct 4 and the City of Jersey Village, completed the Jersey Meadows Stormwater Detention Basin in 2014 with a goal of reducing flood risk to residents along White Oak Bayou in northwest Harris County.

In December, the West Houston Association, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing innovative ideas to the Houston area, awarded the project the Sustainability Stars award in the following three categories:

• Investigation Star - Recognizes project sponsors who study or evaluate the use of sustainability elements in their project prior to any project implementation activities.
• Investment Star - Recognizes project sponsors who include sustainability elements in the design of their project.
• Integration Star - Recognizes project sponsors who include sustainability elements in a constructed project.

While most flood control basins in Harris County do not retain water, the Jersey Village project features a permanent wet-bottom basin with wetlands that naturally filter stormwater and provide natural habitat to wildlife.

The project also involved restoring all unprotected wetlands impacted by basin construction. These wetlands remain separate from the stormwater quality treatment wetlands.

To complete the project, HCFCD reforested the site with native trees and shrubs that will reduce long-term maintenance costs associated with mowing and removing undesirable or invasive species.

An inter-local agreement with the City of Jersey Village allowed for construction of a trail around the perimeter of the basin. Trail users can now access the site for multi-use objectives, providing an opportunity for recreation in addition to flood damage reduction and water quality improvement goals.

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Since its release, the ReadyHarris app has been downloaded more than 12,300 times in just a few months. This free app is available at the Apple App Store and Google Play in both English and Spanish.

HCFCD Receives Federal Funding for Voluntary Home Buyouts

Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) recently announced it will receive $25.6 million in federal funding to begin buyouts of homes identified to have a significant flood risk.
With the current funding and an $8.6 million required local match, the Flood Control District estimates it will be able to purchase approximately 169 homes.
The allocation was part of the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in response to a grant application from HCFCD. The original grant application requested funding

Tree Planting in Tomball

Tree planting isn’t just for Arbor Day anymore. The Harris County Flood Control District and the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council invite the public to participate in the 11th annual tree planting competition Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at a Harris County Flood Control basin located at Tomball Parkway and Holderrieth Road.
Participants may have up to 11 team members and must bring their own shovels. Each team will plant 100 trees properly while being timed and judged. Refreshments are provided.
Teams